Only 60 kms from Mozart's birthplace, Salzburg, lies Austria's very own Three Valleys ski area with over 300 kms of skiable pistes. At the heart of the three valleys and just off Autobahnen 66, lies the Austrian farm community of Flachau, with its traditional rustic chalets. An intermediate skiers' and snowboarders paradise, Flachau's own ski area has 56 kms of ski runs, all of them graded blue or red whilst the linked area of Salzburger Sportwelt consists of over 300km (200 miles) of pistes, most of which is intermediate terrain with the remainder for experts. If the local Amadé region leaves you wanting more, then the Flachau is also a part of the Ski Amadé. This offers more than twice as much skiing again - in total there are nearly 1000km (700 miles) of trails on the pass, served by more than 250 lifts.

Part of one of Austria's largest ski areas, the Salzburger Sportwelt Amadé, Flachau is directly lift -linked to Wagrain, Kleinarl and Flachauwinkl, and from there to Zauchensee and Alpendorf. The village has been made famous in recent seasons by the spectacular achievements of its famous son Herman Maier, World and Olympic Champion. The nearby village of Reitdorf, lift-linked to Wagrain, is part of the Flachau domain.

Mountain

The area proudly boasts it is the home of Hermann Maier, the Herminator, Austria's World and Olympic Downhill champion, so one has to assume the skiing has much to recommend it! And it does, if you are an intermediate skier, that is. With mile upon mile of wide, cruisey, beautifully groomed runs, most skiers will have a great wonderful time. Expert skiers, too, will find that the area is not without its challenges (don't worry, you don't have to race Hermann) not least the 6km run from the Griessenkar ridge.

Thanks to the wealth of easy blue runs, beginners will find themselves with plenty choice when the time comes for them to graduate from the nursery slopes and skiers of all standards will be able to enjoy exploring the area together. The local ski schools can be excellent but make sure you are assigned an instructor who speaks your language. Cross country skiing is very popular around Flachau, with at least 160kms of trails of all standards to explore.

Families

Children are alway welcome in family-friendly Austria and most families will love Flachau, with its fairy tale buildings and its choice of skiing for all levels. For parents who want to ski without the little ones, there is the Miniclub Flachau, and the ski school has children's classes for three years plus. Families who like to ski together will have a blast on the vast network of blue and red runs which cover Flachau and the Amade region.

Eating Out

All of the restaurants, including those attached to hotels, are very Austrian in character, serving national and regional cuisine. Austrian food is delicious but, consisting as it does of dumplings, pastries and few fresh vegetables, it is not know for being particularly low in fat . If you're not going to be skiing and dancing the calories off on the slopes, it might be a good idea to bring some elasticated trousers with you

Apres

Flachau is an Austrian farming town and most of the skiing clientele is Austrian or German. As such the resort has an atmosphere the locals describe as gemutlichkeit (cosy and relaxed). There are several bars and discos (check out Yeti's Partyhaus) where guests and locals alike can drink and dance the night away but you are likely to find the nightlife is more friendly than frenetic.

Boarding

The Riegler sisters, Claudia and Manuela, stars of the snowboard world cup circuit, hail from Flachau and snowboarders are very welcome here. There is a specialist snowboard school, a fun park (with chillhouse) and a half pipe. The wide easy terrain is marvellous for carving and free riders may find some more radical terrain to suit them, especially when there is fresh snow.